Diamond in the Rough

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Work

Diamond in the Rough is trumpeter Roy Hargrove's first album as a bandleader. It was recorded in December 1989 and released in April 1990 on Novus/RCA. Hargrove surrounded himself with trusted musicians: the saxophonists Antonio Hart and Ralph Moore, the pianists Geoffrey Keezer and John Hicks, the bassists Charles Fambrough and Scott Colley and the drummers Al Foster and Ralph Peterson Jr. Larry Clothier produced.

The programme consists of jazz classics, original compositions by Hargrove and Keezer and a ballad associated with Bing Crosby, Easy to Remember. Scott Yanow of AllMusic heard Freddie Hubbard at times in the hard bop, but already a fairly individual sound, with restrained playing on the ballad and strong bop solos elsewhere. His only objection was that the performances and solos were often rather short. Gary Giddins thought the album perhaps a little over-produced, but saw in Hargrove's playing a warm tone, sensible dynamics and surprising calm.

Listening

Track list

1. 1Proclamation6:13Apple Music ↗
2. 2Ruby My Dear6:13Apple Music ↗
3. 3A New Joy6:02Apple Music ↗
4. 4Confidentiality4:59Apple Music ↗
5. 5Broski4:12Apple Music ↗
6. 6Whisper Not7:41Apple Music ↗
7. 7All Over Again5:48Apple Music ↗
8. 8Easy To Remember6:11Apple Music ↗
9. 9Premonition5:37Apple Music ↗
10. 10BHG6:05Apple Music ↗
11. 11Wee4:09Apple Music ↗

30-second previews via Apple Music. Listen to the whole album on Apple Music ↗